Photo above Courtesy IKE Foundation
By Steve Chaconas
Country club members understand that when their course hosts a golf tournament, members become spectators. However, in professional bass fishing, regional and local groups and clubs deny similar exclusivity to professional tournament anglers.
The Potomac River is one of the busiest bass tournament venues in the country with local, regional and national circuits hosting events every year. On any given weekend, there are several tournaments. In addition, local groups host weekday and evening competitions.
Top level tournaments can have as many as 400 anglers, competing up to 4 days. Boat launches are at capacity. Local hotels and campgrounds, restaurants, gas stations, and tackle shops benefit from out-of-town business. In addition, fishing license sales provide revenue for area fisheries departments.
Grass beds, docks, and trees are popular fishing spots, often congregating anglers. At debate is whether local anglers should yield to larger pro circuits as they compete in their sport. Not every recreational angler participates in competitive bass fishing, however every bass angler benefits from the sport.
Pro anglers challenge equipment to peak tolerance. They create and develop techniques and tools that eventually hang on tackle store shelves. New rods, reels, lines, hooks, and lures are developed, tested, and promoted by anglers. Tournament winners reveal fishing details.
For the top pros, it’s a question of respect for the sport. If competitive fishing at any level is truly a sport, why would local groups feel compelled or even justified to fish during a competition? They certainly should understand they’re interfering with outcomes. At worse, some anglers feel they should compete with the top pros, and this is their way to measure up. Others follow pros to ascertain their money spots, only to show up the next morning to beat pros to their holes. Many locals get it! They view sportsmanship as having respect for the sport and staying off the water or only following their favorite pro to observe where and how they fish their lake and to cheer them on.
Guides maintain a unique perspective. Some invite special clients to fish during pro practice periods so they can meet the anglers they’ve read about or seen on TV. It’s a treat to meet fan friendly anglers like BassCat/Yamaha pro Michael “Ike” Iaconelli. Wise guides understand what pros are doing and even glean close-up info. Even wiser guides know where the off-limits release areas are located and treat their best clients to non-stop action.
When the best in the business compete, fans should want to stay off their field of play. Fans are welcomed by most pros, if a respectful distance is observed. Many will tell you where they’re fishing and where your boat should be to avoid interfering. The biggest violation of fan etiquette would be making a cast while watching. Just because you bring a glove to a baseball game, doesn’t entitle you to take the field. Bass fishing sport supporters are willing to relinquish their home waters saying the short-term impact isn’t worth getting upset about. Fans encourage giving the guys a break once or twice a year and going elsewhere, taking a day off, or spending time with their wife. Iaconelli says pros aren’t trying to give off the vibe that they own the water, just that they are trying to make a living and essentially do their job.
Iaconelli publicly questioned as to why fans of the sport would compete on top level tournament days. He pointed to smaller tournament organizations or clubs as those who might or should seek other fishing days. He accepted others who have limited opportunities to get out on the water. These individuals have less impact. But a stubborn few feel entitled to compete for the water, claiming pros should be able to deal with the added fishing pressure as just another obstacle to overcome. While it might make some sense, extra anglers don’t evenly apply their interference. Early leaders can expect crowds on subsequent tournament days.
MD DNR posts all registered tournaments on their website to allow local anglers to avoid crowded boat launches and to alert to the number of boats involved in a tournament. Top trails release schedules nearly a year in advance. There’s no cause for any accidental scheduling of events on top of pro events.
On a recent episode of Ike Live, the successful bass fishing pro brought up the highly controversial topic of tournament anglers getting priority to fish a lake. He insisted everyone has the right to be on public water. “You should be able to fish wherever and whenever you want. BUT…if you are a fan of the sport of tournament bass fishing and you know there is a major tour on that location, why would you hold a tournament the same time?” Ike considered this activity as disrespectful.
Pros commit their lives to promoting and growing the sport and the industry. Without them everyone would still be fishing with a cane pole and bobber. Let them play through.
Potomac River Bassing in AUGUST
Using hollow frogs and punching techniques are the best ways to target late summer bass.
With 50-pound test Gamma Torque braided line, cast hollow frogs over thick mats. Works at any tide.
For higher tides and hottest days, punching mats with 50-pound Torque braid and up to 1.5-ounce tungsten weights will allow a small Texas rigged plastic crawfish to drop through thick grass to where bass are waiting for food.
Dock fishing with Mizmo tubes, Texas rigged with 3/16-ounce weights will work. Use this setup around open areas in grass and pads on marsh clumps.
Around grass or areas with drops or ditches, drop shots will work with 15-pound torque braid with 10-pound test Gamma Edge fluorocarbon line.
In scattered grass, try swim and bladed jigs, black/blue, craw, and white patterns. Use 14–20-pound test Gamma Edge fluorocarbon line and a 7’ rod.
About the Author: Capt. Steve Chaconas is a Potomac bass fishing guide & freelance writer. Potomac river reports: nationalbass.com. YouTube channel NationalBassGuide.